Many cities are reacting to decline by specializing in certain economic competences, imagebuilding and branding. In Saxony-Anhalt, the International Building Exhibition (IBA) Urban Redevelopment 2010 is developing projects and strategies to open up new perspectives for cities through concentration on special economic areas and on particular cultural, social and civic skills. This volume compares IBA cities with other European cities with regard to the knowledge-based economy, culture and health care, and specifically examines strategies, political practices and the cities´future prospects. Experts analyse the three sectors, the perspectives and the constantly changing challenges that these cities have to respond to.